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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Virginia Genealogical Society
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260408T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260408T200000
DTSTAMP:20260423T191317
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UID:7464-1775674800-1775678400@www.vgs.org
SUMMARY:Webinar – The Power of the People: Voices via Petitions with Diane L. Richard\, MEng\, MBA [8 Apr 2026]
DESCRIPTION:Many researchers don’t realize how common it once was to petition state government just to make things happen. Communities often had to formally request approval for everyday needs like schools\, roads\, bridges\, ferries\, and poorhouses. Individuals\, neighbors\, or even entire counties could submit petitions—not just for new services\, but also to address problems like property damage or unequal access to resources. \nIn the 18th and 19th centuries\, petitioning was a normal part of civic life. People could direct petitions to different authorities\, including colonial officials\, governors\, legislatures\, and local governments\, depending on the issue. \nIn this session\, you’ll learn who could be petitioned and for what kinds of concerns\, along with examples of common petition types. You’ll also explore how petitions can be valuable for research. While many finding aids mention petitions\, they often don’t list the people who signed them—so how can we still use them effectively? \nPetitions frequently include original signatures\, which can help distinguish between people with the same name or track movement across places. They also offer insight into what mattered most to the people who signed them. By the end\, you’ll be ready to include in-state petitions in your research\, with examples and resources from North Carolina\, Virginia\, and beyond. \nDiane L. Richard\, MEng & MBA\, is a professional genealogist and founder of Mosaic Research and Project Management (MosaicRPM). With over 35 years of genealogy research experience\, she has been working with clients professionally since 2004. Diane has written over 600 articles for Internet Genealogy and edited numerous publications\, including the blog Upfront with NGS\, and the North Carolina Genealogical Society journal. \nAs an international speaker\, Diane has given hundreds of webinars and in-person programs on genealogy research strategies and record exploitation. She has appeared on Who Do You Think You Are? and published a book on African American research\, “Tracing Your Ancestors — African American Research: A Practical Guide.” Diane’s special interests include researching formerly enslaved individuals\, their descendants\, and Free Persons of Color\, as well as the often-overlooked lives of female ancestors. Tips\, tricks\, strategies & resources are also a focus. \nDiane co-founded GenWebinars\, offering live online genealogy webinars\, and Tar Heel Discoveries\, providing in-person research assistance. She serves as Vice President of NC Historical Records Online\, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing public access to North Carolina historical records. Learn more about Diane’s services and expertise through the Genealogical Speakers Guild and the Association of Professional Genealogists. \n Register for the Webinar
URL:https://www.vgs.org/event/webinar-the-power-of-the-people-voices-via-petitions-with-diane-l-richard-meng-mba-8-apr-2026/
CATEGORIES:VGS Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.vgs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Diane-Richard-Headshot.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260425T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260425T131500
DTSTAMP:20260423T191317
CREATED:20260420T143734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260423T183746Z
UID:7796-1777109400-1777122900@www.vgs.org
SUMMARY:VGS Voting - 2026 Board of Directors
DESCRIPTION:Stay tuned for the 2026 Board of Directors ballot.
URL:https://www.vgs.org/event/vgs-voting-2026/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260425T095000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260425T155000
DTSTAMP:20260423T191317
CREATED:20260302T020413Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260311T172154Z
UID:7249-1777110600-1777132200@www.vgs.org
SUMMARY:VGS Spring Virtual Conference - The Eve of Independence: Colonial Research in Virginia
DESCRIPTION:If you can’t attend\, no worries. All lectures will be recorded and available for 60 days after the event. \nSaturday\, 25 April 2026\n9:50 a.m.–10: a.m.\nWelcome and Opening Remarks \n10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.\nFrom Jamestowne to the Commonwealth\, 1607-1776: Virginia’s Surviving Records and What They Can Tell Us – Barbara Vines Little\, CG®\, FNGS\, FUGA\, FVGS. Vandals\, careless record keepers\, and disasters have all taken their toll\, but there are still numerous avenues to information about the men and women who created the foundation upon which this Commonwealth was built. \n11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.  BREAK\n11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.\nFrom Crown to Commonwealth: A Revolution in Virginia Inheritance – Judy G. Russell\, JD\, CG®\, CGL®\, FUGA. The Revolution didn’t just topple a king—it ended up dismantling Virginia’s inheritance system. In the new Commonwealth\, entailed estates and primogeniture fell\, heirs multiplied\, and daughters gained new claims. As genealogists\, we need to understand how that upheaval reshaped families and left a visible mark on probate records. \n12:15 p.m.–1:30 p.m. LUNCH BREAK and VGS ANNUAL MEETING\n1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.\nThe Virginia Colonial War Experience – Craig R. Scott\, MA\, CG®\, FUGA. Conflicts among the French\, Spanish\, British\, and indigenous tribes were common during the colonial period\, from Jamestown to Lord Dunmore’s War. Several wars were fought over the land\, resulting in records that can identify ancestors in a specific time and place. Virginians also traveled as far as Cartagena de Indias to fight with the British against the Spanish and played a significant role in the French and Indian War. \n2:30 p.m.–2:45 p.m. BREAK\n2:45 p.m.–3:45 p.m. \nLines of Descent: Standards and Strategies for Colonial Era Lineage Applications\, a Panel Discussion – Nicki Peak Birch\, CG®; Lyndon H. Hart III\, and Kimberly Ormsby Nagy\, MD\, AG®\, AGL™ This panel discussion offers practical guidance on how lineage societies evaluate applications and supporting evidence. Panelists will explain common documentation standards\, outline proof expectations for establishing lineage\, and discuss how applications are reviewed and verified. Attendees will gain insight into common challenges and pitfalls\, and strategies to strengthen their submissions\, leaving with a clearer understanding of what lineage societies look for and how to present well-documented proof. \nFunds for the speakers for this Conference were provided in part by the Richard Slatten Endowment for Virginia History of The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia.\nBCG’s credentials and their acronyms—Certified Genealogist and CG—Certified Genetic Genealogist and CGG—Certified Genealogical Lecturer and CGL—are all registered certification marks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Certification marks may be used under license by certificants after periodic competency evaluations (and only during the current five-year period for which they are certified).\nThe ICAPGen℠ Accredited Genealogist®\, AG®\, Accredited Genealogist Lecturer™\, and AGL™ marks are the property of the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists. All Rights Reserved.\n———————————— \nPurchase a ticket below.\nNon-members: $40      Members: $32\nMembers be sure to log in to the website before purchasing a ticket. The member discount will appear on the checkout page.\nThe Zoom link and a link to download the syllabus will be emailed to the email address you used to purchase the ticket approximately three days before the conference.\nConference recordings will be available for 60 days after the event. An email with the recordings link and password will be sent to all registrants once the recordings are available.
URL:https://www.vgs.org/event/vgs-spring-virtual-conference-the-eve-of-independence-colonial-research-in-virginia/
CATEGORIES:VGS Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260519T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260519T200000
DTSTAMP:20260423T191317
CREATED:20260121T233406Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260420T101151Z
UID:7140-1779217200-1779220800@www.vgs.org
SUMMARY:VGS: Barbara's Book Club - May Discussion [19 May 2026]
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the third meeting of Barbara’s Book Club\, a discussion series exploring Barbara Vines Little’s A Researcher’s Guide to Virginia’s Historical Records. This month’s session\, led by Mary O’Brien Vidlak\, CG®\, will focus on Chapters 5 and 6\, which examine Court and Law. \nWhether you are new to Virginia research or looking to deepen your understanding of the historical context behind its record systems\, this informal discussion offers an opportunity to learn from fellow researchers and share insights about navigating the complexities of Virginia’s past. All that’s required is your copy of the book\, your questions\, and your curiosity! \nSee https://www.vgs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/BarbarasBookClub_Chap5and6_Rev.pdf for a list of questions to prompt our discussion. \nRegister at https://tinyurl.com/VGSBookClubMay2026
URL:https://www.vgs.org/event/vgs-barbaras-book-club-may-discussion-19-may-2026/
CATEGORIES:VGS Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260708T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260708T200000
DTSTAMP:20260423T191317
CREATED:20260121T233659Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T015429Z
UID:7143-1783537200-1783540800@www.vgs.org
SUMMARY:VGS: Barbara's Book Club - July Discussion [8 July 2026]
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the fourth meeting of Barbara’s Book Club\, a discussion series exploring Barbara Vines Little’s A Researcher’s Guide to Virginia’s Historical Records. This month’s session\, led by Nicki Peak Birch\, CG®\, will focus on Chapters 7 and 8\, which examine Vital Records and Probate. \nWhether you are new to Virginia research or looking to deepen your understanding of the historical context behind its record systems\, this informal discussion offers an opportunity to learn from fellow researchers and share insights about navigating the complexities of Virginia’s past. All that’s required is your copy of the book\, your questions\, and your curiosity! \nA link to a list of study questions to prompt our discussion will be available here approximately 30 days before the meeting. \nRegister at https://tinyurl.com/VGSBookClubJuly2026
URL:https://www.vgs.org/event/vgs-barbaras-book-club-july-discussion-8-july-2026/
CATEGORIES:VGS Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.vgs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/a-researchers-guide-to-virginias-historical-records-Presentation-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260923T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260923T200000
DTSTAMP:20260423T191317
CREATED:20260121T233604Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T015513Z
UID:7145-1790190000-1790193600@www.vgs.org
SUMMARY:VGS: Barbara's Book Club - September Discussion [23 September 2026]
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the fifth meeting of Barbara’s Book Club\, a discussion series exploring Barbara Vines Little’s A Researcher’s Guide to Virginia’s Historical Records. This month’s session\, led by Judy G. Russell\, CG®\, CGL®\, FUGA will focus on Chapters 9 and 10\, which examine the Colonial Land Office and The Northern Neck/Fairfax Proprietary. \nWhether you are new to Virginia research or looking to deepen your understanding of the historical context behind its record systems\, this informal discussion offers an opportunity to learn from fellow researchers and share insights about navigating the complexities of Virginia’s past. All that’s required is your copy of the book\, your questions\, and your curiosity! \nA link to a list of study questions to prompt our discussion will be available here approximately 30 days before the meeting. \nRegister at https://tinyurl.com/VGSBookClubSep2026
URL:https://www.vgs.org/event/vgs-barbaras-book-club-september-discussion-23-september-2026/
CATEGORIES:VGS Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.vgs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/a-researchers-guide-to-virginias-historical-records-Presentation-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261117T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261117T200000
DTSTAMP:20260423T191317
CREATED:20260121T233815Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T015533Z
UID:7148-1794942000-1794945600@www.vgs.org
SUMMARY:VGS: Barbara's Book Club - November Discussion [17 November 2026]
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the sixth meeting of Barbara’s Book Club\, a discussion series exploring Barbara Vines Little’s A Researcher’s Guide to Virginia’s Historical Records. This month’s session\, led by Deborah Harvey\, CG® will focus on Chapters 12 and 13\, which examine Tax and Census Records. \nWhether you are new to Virginia research or looking to deepen your understanding of the historical context behind its record systems\, this informal discussion offers an opportunity to learn from fellow researchers and share insights about navigating the complexities of Virginia’s past. All that’s required is your copy of the book\, your questions\, and your curiosity! \nA link to a list of study questions to prompt our discussion will be available here approximately 30 days before the meeting. \nRegister at https://tinyurl.com/VGSBookClubNov2026
URL:https://www.vgs.org/event/vgs-barbaras-book-club-november-discussion-17-november-2026/
CATEGORIES:VGS Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.vgs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/a-researchers-guide-to-virginias-historical-records-Presentation-scaled.jpg
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